Episode 3 of Season 2 of "The Recruit" transports us to the bustling city of Doha, Qatar, where Tom and Owen prepare for a high-stakes encounter with the Taliban. As they make their way to the clandestine location, the conversation turns poignant as Owen reveals that his father perished in a bombing when he was just 12 years old. Tom, taken aback, expresses concern that this reunion with the Taliban might reignite Owen's deep-seated trauma. Owen assures him that he has everything under control, emphasizing that he has a mission to accomplish, yet Tom remains skeptical. He cautions Owen to maintain composure, reminding him that their primary objective is to rescue lives.
Meanwhile, back in Korea, Jang Hyun-kim tosses and turns in his bed, haunted by the memory of his wife's perilous journey. His mind races with worry, despite her optimistic outlook. Reaching for a disposable phone, he dials Owen's number. However, Owen is engrossed in a crucial meeting with Oliver and Tom. Oliver, the key to unraveling the mystery behind Nan-hee's abduction, is present. Excusing himself abruptly, Owen hastily informs Jang Hyun-kim of his ongoing plans.
In parallel, Tom initiates a tense discussion with a Taliban leader regarding the liberation of several hostages. The sight of the Taliban stirs emotions within Owen, prompting him to seek solace in another room. Oliver follows suit, offering heartfelt apologies for Nan-hee's plight but acknowledging complications with his Russian contact. Regrettably, he is unable to assist Owen at this juncture. During their conversation, Owen notices a Taliban guard abandoning his post and decides to tail him. He promptly alerts Jang Hyun-kim, warning of impending danger. Jang Hyun-kim, sensing the urgency, urges Owen to act swiftly. A firefight erupts as assailants attempt to eliminate the Taliban leader and Tom.
Elsewhere, Owen and Oliver take refuge in a bathroom. Oliver suggests they remain concealed until Tom can rescue them, but Owen, driven by a sense of duty, engages an adversary and heroically saves Oliver's life. Grateful for his bravery, Oliver mends fences with his Russian contact and uncovers the perpetrator behind Nan-hee's abduction. To Owen's astonishment, the Russians are not responsible.Nichka then calls, revealing her knowledge of Nan-hee's whereabouts but refusing to disclose it until she is paid. Owen, undeterred, confronts Lester, demanding he transfer the money to Nichka or face repercussions from Director West. Lester reluctantly agrees, much to Violet's amusement, who teases him about becoming Owen's personal messenger.Upon returning home, Hannah ventures back into the house to gather some of her belongings. Terence inquires about her latest client, prompting Hannah to confess her growing attraction to Jae. They share laughter over Owen's refusal to accept her departure, jesting about the need for fresh furniture to fill the void left by her absence. Later, as Hannah delivers legal papers to Jae's hotel room, she makes a bold advance towards him. Tragically, Jae's true identity may be concealed, as she catches him surreptitiously snooping through her phone. He manages to weave a convincing excuse, however, and Hannah finds herself believing him once more.
In the office, CEG agents corner Amelia, eager to uncover more about her relationship with Owen. They attempt to trap her in a lie, hoping to connect her to Hannah's arrival in Geneva. Amelia, ever agile, deftly sidesteps the inquiry, leaving the agents to depart her office empty-handed.
Meanwhile, back in Mauritius, Dawn takes a sudden turn, deciding to set her sights on Lester and ordering a hit on him. She tasks Dodge with making the arrangements, while Lester calls her to remind her of her obligation to send the asset list. Unsurprisingly, Dawn refuses to assist Lester. Simultaneously, Lester finds himself reinvigorated, itching to return to the world of operations.
In Korea, Jang Hyun-kim sneaks into Janus' room under the guise of installing new bugs. He hands Janus $10,000 and apologizes for failing to secure the BTS tickets, a feat he acknowledges as notoriously difficult. Janus refuses the money, reminding Jang Hyun-kim that they need intelligence on Grace Cho to prove to Nyland that Jang Hyun-kim is serious about the game. Jang Hyun-kim is reluctant to share anything until he learns more about who abducted his wife. Janus soothes his frayed nerves, informing him that Owen is en route to Korea with the answers they seek. As if on cue, Grace Cho emails Jang Hyun-kim, notifying him of Owen's return to the country.Once again, Grace Cho attempts to coax the secret behind Owen's frequent visits out of him, but he steadfastly clings to his original excuse. Returning to her abode, Nyland dials Amelia's number to caution her that CEG has obtained a warrant to search her premises. In a swift motion, Amelia erases the incriminating footage of her and Owen conversing about Max's case.
Upon the CEG agents' arrival, Amelia brandishes a threat, vowing to expose their involvement in Max's scandal. She reminds them that it was their duty to vet Max, and they failed miserably. Leveling severe accusations, she manages to intimidate the agents into withdrawing and leaving for the moment.
After facing Owen's menacing threats, Lester reluctantly delivers the money to Nichka and extracts the information from her. To his astonishment, he discovers that the Yakuza is behind Nan-hee's abduction. On his return journey, an assassin lurks in the shadows, aiming to eliminate Lester. Fortunately, Lester is a seasoned fighter and manages to vanquish his assailant, snapping a picture of his face in the fray. As he returns home, Lester informs Violet that his cover might be compromised.
Subjected to an exhausting grilling by Grace Cho, Owen eventually drops by Lee-jin's bar for a chat. Their conversation reveals Lee-jin's discontent with her life. Owen confesses the truth about his job and shares his struggles to piece together his life.
As they delve deeper into their discussion, Jang Hyun-kim barges in and forcefully escorts Owen away. Jang Hyun-kim's anxiety to learn about his wife's whereabouts is palpable. Owen confides in him that the Yakuza has taken his wife. Without wasting a moment, Jang Hyun-kim rushes off, with Owen trailing behind. Owen is stunned when Jang Hyun-kim launches an attack on the Jopok hideout and accuses his source of deceiving him. The source protests his ignorance about the Yakuza's motives for targeting Nan-hee, but he does reveal that the Yamazaki clan has taken her and she is currently operating in Eastern Russia. Satisfied with his answers, Jang Hyun-kim brutally executes his source.
A pale and terrified Owen confronts Jang Hyun-kim, his voice trembling with fury as he demands an explanation for why the latter blames himself for Nan-hee's abduction. After a tense standoff, Jang Hyun-kim finally confesses, his voice heavy with regret, how he suggested to his agency the utilization of Nan-hee's NGO to track cryptocurrency employed in criminal activities. Unbeknownst to Nan-hee, the NIS had crafted their own currency, which she innocently used to secure her safety and gain access to the perilous locations she frequented. She remained in the dark about her husband's duplicity. Meanwhile, Jang Hyun-kim never foresaw anyone tracing the money back to his wife; it was supposed to be an untraceable trail. He suspects the Yakuza tracked the funds and targeted his wife as a result.
Owen's heart sinks as he realizes that the romantic tale he saw in Jang Hyun-kim's life was but a mirage. Disillusioned, he withdraws from the case. However, Jang Hyun-kim drops a bombshell, revealing that the CIA and NIS colluded on the cryptocurrency project. To compound the situation, the CIA is now leveraging these funds to track ordinary Americans, capitalizing on the popularity of the cryptocurrency they created. The CIA will stop at nothing to prevent Jang Hyun-kim from exposing the truth, leaving Owen in a precarious position. Frustration boils over into anger, and Owen punches Jang Hyun-kim before storming off with his car, leaving behind a trail of chaos and confusion.
